In what ways do international travel and exposure to different cultures influence the life of a middle or high school student?

I think international travel and exposure to other cultures helped me as a middle school student to be more aware of myself, other people, and how these differences make our world more interesting. I want to travel in the United States and other countries and meet as many people from other cultures as I can. This experience and knowledge is something I would never have gained at home without this travel.

After my travel to Australia with People to People Student Ambassadors earlier this year, my parents said I got more mature. I believe that I got more mature because I got to learn about people from a different continent. I’m more aware of things or situations around me. I also realized that I am lucky for the things I have. Since I learned this, I do not complain as much about getting things I want.

Going to Australia also taught me not to judge other people. What a person looks like on the outside doesn’t mean I can know what kind of person they are on the inside. For example, there is a group of kids that look nice and a second group of kids that look mean. Some people would pick the kids that look nice, but I learned to not judge people so I could get to know all of them. I made friends that I would not have made before.

Another thing I discovered is how people in other countries are unique but also like us. The Aborigines of Australia developed tools, clothing, traditions and many other things to survive and make their lives better. The American Indians also developed many of these same things. Some of these things were different because the environment and climate was different for the Aborigines than it was for the Indians.

While I was in Australia, I was able to tell people I met about my family and me. Then they told me about themselves and their culture. When I got home I could tell my family and friends how Australians are like us and how they are different. One thing this made me want to do is learn Spanish. I am going on the European Discovery next summer in 2006 and our home stay will be in Spain. I want to be able to speak Spanish so I can talk to the family I stay with and learn as much as possible from them.

International travel influenced my life in many ways. I think the trip to Australia made me more mature and I appreciate my life and the things I have more than I did before. It helped me so much I can’t wait to go to Europe next year! I really believe that the People to People Student Ambassador Program is good for kids around the world. I am very glad that I went to Australia. It showed me that there are many differences in people around the world and that we could learn from each other.